U.Va.'S Board
Of Visitors Names Baseball Field In Honor Of The Late Ted Davenport

April 5, 2002-- The University
of Virginias Board of Visitors voted today to name the playing
field in the Universitys baseball stadium Davenport Field.
The naming honors the late Thomas Edward "Ted" Davenport,
a former captain of the Cavalier baseball team who oversaw fund
raising for athletics scholarships at Virginia for 30 years.

At
6:45 p.m. Saturday, April 13, just before U.Va.s second contest
in a three-game series against Wake Forest, the University will
dedicate Davenport Field. Installation of the Bermuda-grass playing
surface was completed in 1998 as part of a renovation funded by
donors to the Universitys recent campaign. A more extensive
reconstruction of the Universitys ballpark was launched last
summer and is nearing completion.

Davenport,
who died Nov. 26, 2001, graduated from Universitys Curry School
of Education in 1953 and was a two-time captain of the Virginia
baseball team and a two-time All-State selection. From 1958 to 1988,
he was executive director and secretary-treasurer of the Virginia
Student Aid Foundation, which raises funds for U.Va.s sports
programs. During his tenure, VSAF received more than $29.4 million
in gifts for scholarships for student-athletes, capital projects,
and other athletics needs.

Davenport
served as head coach of the U.Va. baseball team for the 1960 and
1961 seasons and was head golf coach from 1979 to 1981. After stepping
down as executive director of the VSAF in 1988, he served until
1992 as chief operating officer of the Virginia Auxiliary Services
Foundation, which at that time managed the Universitys Birdwood
Golf Course.

"Ted
Davenport worked tirelessly to foster the support of alumni and
other friends of the University, acquiring the means to recruit
athletes who could compete at the highest level in intercollegiate
sports and at the same time take full advantage of the rich academic
environment at the University," said Craig Littlepage, director
of athletics at U.Va. "Few individuals have been more instrumental
in achieving what is now a winning tradition at Virginia."

By
naming the state-of-the-art playing surface for Davenport, the University
pays tribute to one of Cavalier baseballs most ardent fans,
according to Dennis Womack, head baseball coach. "I can think
of no better way to recognize his dedication to student-athletes,
his leadership role in fund raising for the athletics program, and
his belief in the baseball stadium project," said Womack.

The
installation of Davenport Field was the first step in the transformation
of the Universitys ballpark into "one of the best places
to play and watch baseball in the Atlantic Coast Conference,"
Womack added.

In
June 2001, with $2 million in gifts from anonymous donors, the University
launched a $5 million reconstruction effort that includes a 1,500-seat
canopied grandstand, new stadium lights, new dugouts, an onsite
locker room and clubhouse, a new press box, and space for sky boxes
that can be leased by fans or corporate sponsors. Fund raising for
the project is approaching the 80 percent mark, and much of the
work on the stadium was completed in time for the 2002 season.

Contact:
Carol Wod, (434) 924-6189

FOR
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Contact the Office
of University Relations at (434) 924-7116. Television reporters
should contact the TV News Office at (434) 924-7550.